I am a Tombstone Tourist: someone who loves to wander cemeteries. I find it akin to visiting a museum: an opportunity to enjoy rarely seen sculpture, intricate carvings, and amazing architecture, all in a tranquil outdoor setting. This blog is about cemetery culture, art, history, issues of death, and genealogy - subjects of current relevance. I usually find something that intrigues me and makes me want to dig deeper. Care to join me? Read on...

Friday, February 10, 2012

Cemetery Symbols of LOVE - A Valentine’s Day Remembrance

Facing Eternity Together

Regardless
of what we might say, most of us are romantics at heart. And this is evident in the
cemetery. In the Victorian era,
certain symbols were used to convey true devotion, or a deep and abiding
love. Today, we don't really worry about using symbols, we just say what's in our hearts and on our minds.

Victorian
Symbols of LOVE:

The
heart shape is the most well known symbol of love. Philosophers and Stoics thought that the heart was the seat
of the soul and emotions. Even in religious teachings, the heart was believed
to hold our spiritual or divine traits.

Clasped
hands indicated a married couple, united after death. Th

e hand that is shown holding the other indicates the person who died first, who is assisting their love into eternity.

Two
round columns joined by an arch on top represents the gateway to eternity. This is used for the graves of a
husband and wife, joined in death, as in life. Notice the bench?
Falling down a bit, but still strong and sturdy….

Calla
Lilies are found on many older stones in the cemetery. These lilies symbolize marriage,
purity, and resurrection.

Roses
signify true love, eternal love, and passion.

Modern
Day Symbols of LOVE:

In today’s world, we state, and show, what’s on our minds and in our hearts
very plainly.

Epitaphs
abound in the cemetery, but those that are loving tribute are the most
common. Sometimes a simple word
says it all:

Beloved
– someone who was dearly or much loved.

Many
times a phrase sums up those feelings of love quite succinctly.

Some Where My Love

Wait for Me the Best is Yet To Be

God Gives Us Love,Something to Love He Lends Us.

Together Throughout Eternity

Dear Morgan Thou Hast
Left Me

In This World To Weep
For Thee

But With God's Will
& His Good Pleasure

I Soon Will BE At Rest
With Thee

Dear Husband, Can I E're
Forget

Or Shall The Grave
Eternally Sever?

No, In My Memory You
Still Live Yet,

And In My Heart You Will
LIve Forever.

Husband,

May We Pass Together

Through The Gates Ajar.

It Broke My HeartTo Lose You,But You Didn't Go Away,Part of Me Went With YouThe Day God CalledYou Home.

Although
this is difficult to see well, the sentiment is truly touching. I photographed this through the window
of a mausoleum. It is a written
tribute and photo to a wife, from her husband.

We
are beginning to include photos and etchings on stones,
once again. Although this was
popular in the early to mid twentieth century, it fell out of favor until the
turn of this century.

About Me

I
love wine and will take any chance to sip, savor and share it! Hence, Joy’s JOY
of Wine http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com,
a weekly blog about all things wine. I've been in the industry for 15
years as a winery owner, marketing director, speaker, writer, wine judge, and
100% vino girl!

I'm
also a professional freelance magazine and book writer uncorking articles about
wine, food, history, travel, cemetery history and culture. My interest in
cemetery culture led to another great, or maybe I should say
"grave" gig, my weekly blog: A Grave Interest http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com where I get to travel around the country and speak about cemetery topics for genealogy, history and
education conferences.

I suppose you could say that wine is my
passion, and cemeteries are my diversion ... into another world.

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